Additional Coverage:
- Deadly Russian Su-34 bombers are sitting ducks for Ukraine’s ATACMS. But it can’t attack without US approval. (newsbreak.com)
Close to the northeastern Ukrainian border, Russia’s formidable Su-34 fighter jets are currently stationed out in the open. These aircraft have been actively employed in launching frequent glide bomb attacks against Ukraine. Yet, Ukraine is obligated to obtain permission from the United States before it can target these vulnerable jets.
Situated near the border with northeastern Ukraine, the deadly Su-34 fighter bombers are visibly stationed on the runway of a military airfield, preparing for their subsequent missions.
The Voronezh Malshevo airbase serves as a key operational site for the jets, managed by the Russian Air Force’s 47th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment. This regiment has been consistently involved in assaults on the Kharkiv region and has also launched numerous strikes against Ukrainian military and civilian targets using potent glide bombs.
Satellite imagery of the Voronezh Malshevo airbase reveals a lineup of Su-34s among other aircraft and helicopters, ready for action. The base is located merely 100 miles from the Ukrainian border, placing it within striking distance of Ukraine’s US-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a range of 300 km (186 miles).
However, the U.S. restricts Ukraine from launching attacks on recognized Russian territory with the ATACMS, allowing strikes only within its sovereign territory, including areas under occupation. Earlier this month, Ukrainian forces attacked Sevastopol in occupied Crimea with ATACMS missiles, causing casualties and injuries.
Russia held the United States accountable for the attack and threatened retaliatory measures.
This limitation poses a significant challenge for Kyiv, which has been committed to undermining the Russian Air Force’s capabilities and destroying the Su-34s. Ukraine has frequently had to depend on drones for these operations, which can be neutralized by electronic countermeasures.
Recently, Ukrainian forces deployed at least 70 drones against a Russian military airbase in the Rostov region, nearly 200 miles from the Ukrainian border. During this operation, satellite imagery showed several Su-34 fighter bombers once again out in the open. A report from a Russian Telegram channel cited an unnamed source in the Russian General Staff, noting that while most drones were intercepted, the assault resulted in casualties and injuries among the personnel.
The impact of the drone attack on the aircraft was not immediately clear. Meanwhile, Russia has increased its use of sophisticated glide bombs throughout the conflict. These bombs are made by equipping old Soviet-era bombs with wings and satellite navigation, allowing Russian jets like the Su-34 to release them from distances that challenge Ukrainian defenses.
Recently, video footage shared on Russian Telegram channels reportedly showed the first combat deployment of Russia’s massive 6,600-pound FAB-3000 glide bomb, dropped by a Su-34 jet, as reported by Forbes. According to the Institute for the Study of War, this advancement in Russian capabilities marks a significant escalation in the threat level posed by these attacks on Ukrainian forces and infrastructure.